BEDMINSTER, NJ - Verizon Wireless announced today the debut of an online video featuring a high-speed, third-generation (3G) wireless data call on its Lucent Technologies-supplied network. The one minute video shows a head-to-head comparison of two laptops loading the Verizon Wireless homepage - one utilizing 3G technology with a digital wireless phone and the other with a landline 28.8 kb/s modem. The 3G technology loads the homepage at a dramatically faster transmission rate of 3 seconds, versus over a minute with the landline modem.

In a press release issued on July 13, 2000, Verizon Wireless and Lucent Technologies announced the first high-speed third-generation wireless data call on commercial Lucent-supplied network. The test demonstrates a wireless Web page download at a transmission rate ten times faster than what's now available on CDMA networks. It is a significant step for Verizon Wireless in developing rich and robust digital data networking for its customers.

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 25 million wireless voice and data customers and nearly 4 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp - now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) ? and Vodafone AirTouch Plc (LSE:VOD; NYSE:VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The new company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets.

Verizon Wireless, headquartered in New York City and Bedminster, NJ, is 30,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company in its Media Center on the Web at: http://www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter.